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Lydia Louise Bennett

July 25, 1916 ~ July 23, 2018 (age 101)

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Lydia passed peacefully from this life the morning of July 23rd after a gradual decline in health. She was surrounded and supported by her loving family during the last days of her life.

Lydia was born in Baltimore, MD, to Romolo and Carolina (Baldi) Briglia on July 25, 1916. Lydia lived for her entire life in Baltimore where she raised her three daughters and a son.

Lydia is survived four children: Carole M. Barney and her partner Michael Cataneo, Gloria E. Avara, Patricia A. Szczecinski and her husband John, and R. Anthony McLaughlin and his wife Karen; three grandchildren: Stephen Szczecinski, Joseph Avara, and Kara Boehl; and six great-grandchildren: William and Caroline Szczecinski and Abbigale, Kassidy, James, and Faith Boehl. Lydia is also survived by her sister Gloria Webb. She was preceded in death by her father Romolo, her mother Carolina, her husband Leroy, sons-in-law Rex Barney and Simon Avara, brother Anthony Briglia, and sister Marion Braun.

Lydia was a devoted mother, loving grandmother and great-grandmother, and a loyal friend to those around her. All that knew Lydia would describe her as a survivor who liked things done “her way,” while being generous and supportive to those around her. Lydia had a keen knack for being a person who could put everything into perspective. No matter the situation, Lydia would always say that one right, truthful thing that made whatever problem someone had manageable. She was always generous with compliments and gentle with her criticism. Lydia knew when to leave someone alone, and she knew when leaving someone alone was the last thing they needed.

For three decades, Lydia worked at Read’s drug store starting as a store clerk and retiring as a store manager. Lydia was active in both the VFW and served as treasurer of the Avara/DeMarco Lodge for the Order Sons of Italy for two decades. Lydia’s favorite times were birthday and holiday celebrations surrounded by family and friends. She also enjoyed traveling with her family.

At the time of her passing, Lydia was just two days shy of her 102nd birthday- 101 years and 363 days of a life well lived. She would not want her family and friends to mourn her. Lydia would trust us to remember her for what she was- strong, funny, and full of life.